We invite working papers for participation in the workshop entitled "Second Generation Research Dialogues: Comparative Perspectives on Children of Immigrants" held at the Center for Metropolitan Studies Berlin on 16/17 January 09.Deadline for submission of abstract of working papers is Nov 21st 08.
Current work on second generation immigrants will be discussed along two main themes:
• the second generation and the city
• the second generation in school
Within integration debates across Europe, focus has shifted from the first to the so called second generation of immigrants in recent years. Their performance in educational systems and on the job markets is tied to success or failure of integration policies and scrutinized with concern, as is their cultural, social and religious orientation. In many places a very contested group, the second generation symbolizes permanency of migration and growing diversity while raising questions about the concept and mechanisms of „integration“ today.
Central questions and concerns include
• the impact of cities on processes of second generation identity construction, self-representation and
negotiation between cultural spheres
• its role as arena for political participation, claim making and social positioning
• its role as living and working environment and space of opportunity or restraint
• as social space and place of belonging
• the educational participation of second generation immigrants in comparative perspective
• inequalities within educational systems
• linkages between educational settings, policies and attainment
• the role of teachers, friends, families and other factors impacting educational careers
The workshop offers internationally comparative perspectives on second generation research in Europe and the US, featuring keynote presentations by
Philip Kasinitz, chair of Dept. of Sociology at CUNY, NYC, USA
on the New Second Generation in Metropolitan New York;
Jens Schneider, Institute for Migration and Ethnic Studies (IMES), Amsterdam, introducing the EU- research project TIES on the European second generation covering fifteen cities
in eight European countries.
Workshop format:
The workshop aims at facilitating intense dialogue and exchange among doctoral students and
junior researchers involved in work on second generation immigrants. This will be reflected in the
amount of time in the program allocated for discussion in a constructive, supportive setting.
We expect from the invited participants to prepare a discussion/working paper outlining their
current research on children of immigrants. This working paper can contain work in progress but
should be related to the central themes of the workshop:
• the second generation and the city
• the second generation in school
The working paper will be circulated to all participants well in advance. Participants are expected to
read the working papers in order to participate in the discussion. Additionally, each participant will have the opportunity to give ten-minute presentations introducing their research at the day of the seminar. The workshop will be based on discussion following participant presentations and on the basis of the submitted working papers. Main objective of the workshop is to provide a constructive
setting for intense discussion on central issues in this field of research and to foster further development of the current projects / working papers of participants.
There will be a maximum of 20 participants. Workshop language is English.
Working Papers
We invite working papers presenting theoretical and/or empirical contributions from a variety of
methodological perspectives on children of immigrants, regarding one of the central themes:
• the second generation and the city
• the second generation in school
Submitted working papers should:
• be directly related to one of the major topics of the workshop
• present current research
• be theoretically informed regarding second generation “integration“ theory
Papers should not exceed length of 7,000 words and include an abstract (no more than 700 words).
It is expected that collected papers will be published in some form after the workshop.
Application
Please submit your abstract and short CV with contact details to the following address:
secondgeneration@metropolitanstudies.de
no later than 21st November 2008.
Applicants will be notified before 8 December 2008.
(deadline for handing in of complete paper by participants: 31st December 2008)
All sessions will be held at the Center for Metropolitan Studies, Technical University Berlin,
Ernst-Reuter-Platz 7, 3rd floor, 10587 Berlin, Germany.
Participation in the workshop is free of charge for all selected participants. Unfortunately, the Center for
Metropolitan Studies cannot offer travel grants. Travel and accommodation expenses are responsibility of individual participants. However, we can support you with recommendations and information regarding your stay in Berlin.
For further questions, please contact Viola-Donata Rauch or Philipp Schnell:
secondgeneration@metropolitanstudies.de
www.metropolitanstudies.de

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